Fletcher, Faulconer play up business endorsements

San Diego mayoral contenders Nathan Fletcher and Kevin Faulconer this week continued to portray themselves as strong business-friendly candidates, offering up new endorsements as evidence.

A statewide business group announced its support of Fletcher while the organization representing San Diego hoteliers is scheduled to officially back Faulconer on Tuesday.

In a news conference held Monday at a Greek restaurant in Rancho Bernardo, the California Small Business Association announced its decision to back Fletcher, noting its long history with the candidate during his tenure in the state Assembly. While the Los Angeles-based group does not normally insert itself in local elections, President Betty Jo Toccoli said the association decided to make an exception for the mayor's race.

"He was a go-to guy for us (while an assemblyman), he always delivered, and if he couldn't he would come back and give us an explanation as to why not," said Toccoli, whose organization represents 200,000 small businesses statewide. "While it's unusual for us to endorse at the local level, we couldn't miss this opportunity to do so because the citizens of San Diego will be very lucky to have Nathan as their next mayor."

“Kevin Faulconer is a proven leader in San Diego and has been a champion of the hospitality industry long before he was elected as a City Council member,” said Jody Blackinton, the association's board president. “Whether advocating for Mission Bay, pushing for the expansion of the Convention Center or spearheading San Diego’s Tourism Marketing District, Kevin has always recognized the hospitality industry’s significant economic benefit to the citizens of San Diego.”

Faulconer, a Republican, and Fletcher, a Democrat, are among a crowded field of candidates vying to replace Bob Filner, who resigned as mayor Aug. 30 amid a sex harassment scandal. Each has sought to highlight his credentials within the business community in a race that is technically non-partisan.

Faulconer won the backing of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, while Fletcher has garnered the support of a number of high-level San Diego business men, including the leadership of Qualcomm, where he now works as senior director of corporate development.

Simultaneously, Fletcher has sought support from organized labor with mixed success. He is being backed by city worker unions representing firefighters, lifeguards and white-collar employees. But Councilman David Alvarez, another Democrat, gained the backing of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council.

Also a declared candidate is former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, who is also a Democrat.

Toccoli praised Fletcher for his responsiveness to the needs of small businesses while in Sacramento.

"On more than one occasion he'd let us know that small business wasn't at the table on workers comp or other issues, and he'd help me get there because quite often, big business and labor would shut us out," she said.

Although her association had opposed recently passed state legislation to increase the minimum wage to $10 by 2016, she said Fletcher's support of the increase did not dissuade the business group from endorsing him.

"I'm not sure small business would respect any of us if we agreed 100 percent of the time," she said. "It's OK to disagree 20 percent of the time."